Saquon Barkley shines in Eagles debut victory over Packers in Brazil - ESPN

SÃO PAULO — The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles flew all the way to Brazil to open their 2024 seasons.

It was a night of firsts: The NFL's first game in the Southern Hemisphere, the first opening-week game on a Friday since 1970 and the first time running back Saquon Barkley played for the Eagles.

After a slow start to the game, the teams went blow for blow in the second quarter, with two Barkley touchdowns and a pair from Green Bay receiver Jayden Reed.

The second half went back and forth before the Eagles pulled away and sealed the 34-29 Week 1 victory, which ended with Packers quarterback Jordan Love on the sideline with an apparent leg injury.

Here are the most important things to know from Friday night for both teams:

It was the Saquon Barkley show, for all the world to see.

Making his debut for the Philadelphia Eagles, Barkley dazzled in front of the capacity crowd at Arena Corinthians, rushing for more than 100 yards and scoring three total touchdowns to push the Eagles past the Green Bay Packers.

It's just what the Eagles' brass hoped for when they signed him to a three-year, $37.75 million contract this spring. He was a force on the ground and in the air, highlighted by his 18-yard TD reception along the left sideline in the second quarter. They expected him to be revitalized — playing behind a better offensive line than he had with the New York Giants and alongside a plethora of playmakers, such as receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith — and the 27-year old looked it.

Barkley is the second Eagles player in franchise history to score three touchdowns in his team debut, joining Terrell Owens in 2004.

There is a long way to go — Barkley needs to prove he can stay healthy over the course of a 17-game